Poster Presentation ESA-SRB-ANZBMS 2024 in conjunction with ENSA

Promoting bone health in adolescence via educational resources (#377)

Richard L Prince 1 2 , Amanda Devine 2 , Julie Boston 3 , Ric Forlano 4
  1. University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
  2. School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
  3. School of Education , Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
  4. Arthritis & Osteoporosis WA, Arthritis Foundation of WA Incorporated, Perth, WA, Australia

Achieving optimal peak bone mass in adolescence reduces the effects of age-related bone loss and fracture. Optimising public and personal childhood bone health is an agreed part of Australian Health guidelines. However, there are scant evidence based educational resources available. Here we outline our scientific approach and results of a focused two-year program to develop such a resource for use in schools, sporting clubs and health care facilities.

In 2022 we initiated a scoping review of published educational resources on bone and joint health for children. As a result, experts in childhood education and health developed and evaluated new resources, referencing the current Australian educational curriculum, using a combination of three approaches including a digital educational game (Skeletal Central). Second, animations covering bone structure, biology and biomechanics together with the basic pathology of fracture and importantly lifestyle methods of prevention of fracture including nutrition, physical activity, removal of bone toxins and appropriate hormonal status. Finally, a detailed online curriculum companion for teachers including detailed written information covered by the course, and how to include this in teaching sessions in human biology, technology, science, and physical education. We present here the results of an evaluation of change in knowledge before and after using the Skeletal Central games assessed in 89 high-school students in years 7-11. 

The scoping review of 568 publications identified a scarcity of digital educational programs on bone health literacy and those with traditional interventions showed limited effect on increasing bone health behaviours. Evaluation of our Skeletal Central game is shown in the Table with evidence of a substantial improvement in knowledge in five areas.

These results identify the lack of effective educational resources focusing on childhood skeletal health. Second, we present data that the resources we have developed may play a major role in correcting this situation.

66b5bdca587f0-Table+1.png